Briefs

October 31, 2008|STAFF REPORTS

PUBLIC SAFETYExtra patrols for trick-or-treat St. Joseph County police will have eight extra police units patrolling neighborhoods tonight -- Halloween -- according to county police spokesman Sgt. Bill Redman. County police reserve officers will be in the following neighborhoods distributing glow sticks and candy to children: Covington Shores, Jefferson Knolls, Gilmer Park, Wedgewood Park, Farmington Square/Irongate, the Willows at Mayflower and Prairie Lane Estates. Redman urged motorists to use extreme caution today, especially during trick-or-treating hours when pedestrians may be walking where they wouldn't normally be expected to be. According to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, more pedestrians were struck during the 2007 holiday period (Oct. 26 to Nov. 1) than any other time last year. There were 47 pedestrians involved in collisions with vehicles during that six-day period and one-third of those were younger than 18. Adult partygoers are reminded to designate a person to remain sober and drive before the festivities begin. CRIME & COURTSPolice: Game-day break-ins possible SOUTH BEND -- With the next Notre Dame home football game Saturday, police are warning fans and out-of-town guests to protect their valuables in vehicles. Thieves target vehicles parked on or near campus on football weekends. "Most notably, the last home game we saw a big increase in vehicle larceny, car break-ins, also in St. Joe County," Capt. Phil Trent of the South Bend Police Department told WSBT-TV. Trent said victims had two things in common: In most cases they left their doors unlocked and had valuables exposed. He said people have to be more careful and not leave anything in the open. "That includes change in the center console, things suggesting more property in the vehicle, like iPod earbuds hanging from the rear-view mirror," he said. Carrier sentenced for hiding mail SOUTH BEND -- A former Middlebury mail carrier was sentenced in federal court Thursday to five months in prison after accumulating thousands of pieces of undelivered mail in her home for more than a year. Vickey Warner, 50, will begin her sentence Jan. 1. She was ordered to pay a $3,000 fine and will be on supervised release for six months, five of which will include home detention. On May 7, Postal Service investigators were contacted after receiving complaints from town residents who were missing mail. A search of her vehicle turned up 645 pieces of mail. After Warner consented to a search of her home, investigators recovered more than 20,000 pieces of mail. Warner said she would get overwhelmed while working and she would not be able to complete her deliveries. When questioned why she did not return the undelivered mail to the post office, Warner stated she did not want to get in trouble, prosecutors allege in court records.